Goodreads asked S.W. Hammond:

How do you get inspired to write?

S.W. Hammond There’s a few simple external things that, if kept in order, make creativity happen more fluid for me. For one, a clean and organized office.

Clear off your desk, pick up piles of papers / books, and reduce the clutter. This can also translate into the rest of your life as well—a dirty house or bathroom—there’s this weird little nagging voice in my subconscious that seems to suppress creative thought until my environment is organized. I must also mention, this didn’t come naturally to me at first. I’m not a neat freak or that type of person, but I did notice that when things were clean, I’d actually get to work a lot faster when I sat down. No 45 minutes of staring into space trying to get into the zone.

Next, and this goes along with the first, is atmosphere. To me, it’s really important to be comfortable and truly enjoy the location / surroundings where I write. Whether that’s next to a window with a view of tree, a spot filled with comic con art and toys, or your own writer’s sanctuary—a spot created just for your writing is a nice touch if you’re able. I’ve never been able to concentrate in a coffee shop or hotel lobby.

Exercise. A regular workout routine is super important for a few reason—most of them being the obvious. Exercise has tons of great affects on the brain. Beyond that, almost all of the greatest writers and and philosophers of the world walk. These kats could walk over 10 miles a day. One, there’s the exercise aspect and all of the goodness that it does for your brain, but second is that it’s sort of half meditative—a mindless place your thoughts go when engaged in repetition and exercise. Physical activity is freedom for the mind and it’s important to let it wander. The first 10 or 15 minutes I’m usually consumed by all my worldly troubles—bills I have to pay, something Gina said that got under my skin, upcoming social things I have to be a part of—but eventually all of that stuff fades. Worlds come alive or I’m able to navigate super complex paths of thought. In this space I work through writer’s block (see my other tip on that), character development, or get flooded with ideas for a brand new story.

In short, these little tricks may seem like a distraction from doing actual writing, but my productivity skyrockets when I can get into a routine and stay organized.

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